MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan chairs 'gau cabinet', plans 'gaumata' cess for welfare of cows

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The Madhya Pradesh government is planning to levy a cess to raise money for the welfare of cows.

Addressing a public meeting in Agar Malwa on November 23, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan invoked 'Indian culture' to explain the rationale behind the likely move to impose the 'gaumata' tax.

"I am thinking of imposing some minor tax to raise money for the welfare of the 'gaumata' (cow) and for the upkeep of cow sheds….Is it alright?" the BJP leader asked while the people replied in the affirmative.

"…We used to feed the first 'roti' (baked in households) to cows. Similarly, we used to feed the last roti to dogs. Such was the concern for animals in Indian culture which is vanishing now, so we are thinking to collect some small tax from the public for the sake of cows," Chouhan said.

He said law will be enacted to run cowsheds in the state. Earlier in the day, the CM chaired the first meeting of the newly formed 'gau cabinet' (cow cabinet) through virtual mode, during which it was decided to boost the cow-based economy and to set up a research centre for it in Agar Malwa district.

Chouhan also wished participants on the occasion of 'Gopashtami', a festival dedicated to Lord Krishna and cows. The chief minister underlined the need for promoting milk instead of eggs to help improve the health of malnourished children.

It was decided, among other things, to promote use of cow dung and urine for the well-being of society. After the meeting, Chouhan flew to 'Kaamdhenu Gau Abhyaranya', a cow sanctuary spread over 472 hectares at Salariya village in Agar Malwa district.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had laid the foundation stone of this sanctuary in 2012.

Earlier in the day, Chouhan worshipped cows at his residence in Bhopal. He later worshipped eleven cows at the sanctuary and interacted with experts in the field, officials said.

Last week, Chouhan had announced the setting up of a separate "cabinet" for the protection and promotion of the cow. Ministers of Animal Husbandry, Forest, Panchayat and Rural Development, Revenue, Home and Farmers' Welfare departments will be part of this cabinet, said to be the first such body in the country, he had informed.

According to official sources, ministers from the six departments were part of the meeting held on Sunday.

The cow cabinet meeting was earlier scheduled to be held in the sanctuary at Agar Malwa, but the plan was dropped in view the COVID-19 situation in the state, officials said.

However, MP is not the first state to implement cow cess. Earlier, in January 2019, the Uttar Pradesh government had imposed a gau kalyan (cow welfare) cess of 0.5 percent on alcohol, toll taxes and profits of public sector infrastructure companies to fund and maintain cow shelters.

Himachal Pradesh has collected nearly Rs 8 crore as cow cess through the sale of liquor which has helped the state government to so far rehabilitate and shelter 15,177 abandoned and stray cattle, the IANS reported. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had constituted the Gau Seva Aayog in February 2019 to protect and rehabilitate cows.

As per the Jagran Josh, the cow cess have also been levied in Punjab, Chandigarh and Rajasthan.

(With inputs from agencies)